Author: Scott Von Holzen

Behind on posting images:  This is a section of Amazing Grace at 24 inches by 6 foot in size.    This music is big, but since religious music is not a favorite it was never considered until an email was received requesting to purchase an artwork based on Amazing Grace.

Since this will probably be the only painting ever done, of this music, the original thinking was to use a larger canvas of twelve feet to fit the entire song.  To keep the cost down, and since the phrase chosen fits in a six foot size the decision was made. Another reason was that after doing the fourteen foot Tristesse, it is thought that it was time to take a break an do a series of smaller works.   They offer more pushes to press this style forward.

The change in attitude towards this music was not all because of a potential sale.  A motivation was the honest words from a woman, that takes this art and that song seriously, and the realization  that Amazing Grace is actually quit a good tune known by almost everyone.   The music collection has versions by Elvis Presley, Susan Boyle (added), Willie Nelson, Chris Tomlin (added), and the two favorites by the Taliesin Orchestra and Judy Collins.

The song was written by John Newton in the late seventeen hundreds. The search began to find the original manuscript of the music.  An early version was found but sounded to early. The words where also different from today.   A non original appearing version published in 1829, and in the Public Domain, was luckily discovered.  The current updated version by Chris Tomlin (My Chain Are Gone) was at first an interesting thought, but rejected.

Why the picture above is crimson can only be guessed.  When a work is started with the music being played colors pop in and out. The paint went here and there and things just went down from their throughout that night.  All efforts could not turn the corner.  In the morning it did not look that bad, but the color scheme was rejected.   Last night an image two was finish and photographed, today, and will be posted soon.  The colors got a lot better after four hours worth of work, just to ease any thoughts.

Scott Von Holzen

What Child is This left side of 20 inch by 5 foot canvas.  It took two days just to put down the eighth notes.   The eighth notes are shown here as the three notes with the Naples yellow, yellow and burnt sienna fan shaped lines.  The originally thought with the Christmas work is to simply do it, get it done, nothing fancy, no need to go crazy,  just do what has worked.    For the last two nights non of those thoughts prevailed  to create the eighth note flags.   Colors tried ranged from dark  to light blue, yellow , blue greens,  red, and green, and nothing worked.   Different sized rollers, and different size pallet knives were all tried.  Stokes this and that way, down and across.  Even dabs of paint and wide flowing brush stokes, in green is remembered; but it all was washed off the canvas .  Early this late afternoon it was all put together, some of this and that technique, and in 30 minutes it was done, and good to go, for now.

It is the next day, in the morning, before heading out, that a quick glance at the canvas will tell the truth: yes or no.   It is that simple.  When there is but one to judge, that judgement is precise without forgiveness.

Scott Von Holzen